Overview

• Pinterest has begun testing pop-up prompts that encourage teens aged 13–17 to close the app and pause notifications during school hours, Monday to Friday from 8 AM to 3 PM.
• The large-scale test is expected to reach millions of users in the US and Canada, marking Pinterest as the first major tech company to trial such a proactive feature for student focus.
• The initiative aligns with growing smartphone restrictions in schools, including New York’s recently passed statewide ban on phone use during the school day starting in the 2025–26 academic year.
• Pinterest has announced a $1 million grant to the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), funding task forces in 12 US school districts to develop policies promoting digital wellbeing.
• CEO Bill Ready and Chief Legal Officer Wanji Walcott emphasized the need for collaboration between tech companies, educators, and policymakers to ensure smartphones are tools for learning rather than distractions.